U.S. Capitol Police recommend keeping barbed wire surrounding Capitol installed until Fall

Officials from the Capitol Police reportedly made the recommendation for the fence and barbed wire to remain in place until September to congressional leaders, as law enforcement continues to pursue information relevant to possible future threats to the capitol premises, an anonymous source told AP news.

The ongoing investigations concern leads ranging in severity and credibility, though they reportedly include online discussions involving extremists groups potentially returning to Washington D.C. in the coming months, the source said.

Law enforcement officials are saying that the fence and barbed wire barricades are needed as physical barriers in case a similar event occurs to that of the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol.

Despite the recommendation to leave them in place, there is a growing call from lawmakers to take down the barricades and restore downtown D.C. to normal.

Some 40 Republican lawmakers signed a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to remove the fencing and send the thousands of National guard troops stationed in D.C. after the inauguration home.

"It’s time for healing and it’s time for the removal of the fencing so the nation may move forward," the letter read.

The current acting Capitol Police chief has advocated for permanent fencing and other "vast improvements" to upgrade security around the Capitol premises.

"I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol," the acting chief, Yogananda Pittman, said in a statement.